Elwin "Bud" Arnold Spencer

Elwin Arnold Spencer, 88, of Lakeview Arkansas, passed away on December 31st, 2023 after a short illness. Elwin was known as “Bud” to all his friends and family. Bud passed away peacefully at Care Manor nursing home in Mountain Home, Arkansas.

Bud was born in Wayne Township, Doniphan County Kansas, on July 1st, 1935. Bud continued the many generations of Spencer’s with the initials “E A Spencer”. He grew up in the farming community of Cummings, Kansas and graduated from Atchison County Community High School in 1953. While living in Atchison, Bud married his first wife Dorothy and started a family. Bud eventually moved to St. Joseph, Missouri and began his 35-year career as a long-haul truck driver for Crouch Brothers. He ended his career with Yellow Freight.

Bud married his second wife Sally in 1974. Bud and Sally opened the Spencer’s Ice Cream store in St. Joseph, Missouri, which was a popular destination for kids and families to hang out and enjoy the ice cream and home-made cakes and assorted desserts. Sally managed the store while Bud continued his career as a truck driver. Bud enjoyed going to garage sales and buying things he could fix. Bud also became a Freemason in 1977 and was a Master Mason of the 3rd degree. Bud was proud to be part of the Moila Shriners motorcycle group and loved to ride his bike in parades and competitions. Bud and Sally eventually moved to Matteson IL, before retiring and building a new home in Upsal,a Minnesota, which they designed and built themselves. Bud and Sally moved to Lakeview, Arkansas in 2001 where they enjoyed the peaceful country, driving to see friends, going to casinos, bowling, and playing dominos and cards with friends and neighbors.

After Sally passed away in 2014, Bud had the good fortune to meet Laura Norman. Laura had recently lost her husband, and she and Bud struck up a friendship which would last the rest of his life. Since 2015, Laura had been Bud’s best friend, loving soulmate, and constant companion.

Bud is survived by his children, Eugene A Spencer (aka Tony), Scott (Joanne) Spencer; and Vicki (Tom) Ketchum; grandchildren, Haley (Landon) Huckins, Andrew (Madeline) Spencer, Elizabeth Spencer, Brian Lilley, and Kurt Lilley; great-grandchildren, Kason and Rylan Huckins, and Shepherd Spencer.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Marcella “Sally” Spencer, parents, Raymond and Wahnita Spencer, and sister, Ray Dean Schurman.

There will be no services at this time.

Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services - Mountain Home, Arkansas. Visit an online obituary and guestbook at www.kirbyandfamily.com .